Toggle actuated hand grip clamp or wrench



Nov. 11, 1952 R- J. KELLY *roccu: ACTUATED HAND GRIP CLAMP on wasncn 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1950 Ha. I.

mvamon Bauer J K! Y.

NOV. 11, 1952 u, KE 2,617,458

TOGGLE ACTUATED HAND GRIP CLAMP 0R WRENCH Filed Feb. 2-, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I: 2- m 5:; s 1a.8.

INVENTOR Paar/era. K544 r.

AFT NEY Patented Nov. 11, 1952 TOGGLE ACTUATED HAND GRIP CLAMP OR WRENCH Robert -J. Kelly, Waterford, Conn.

Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 141,937

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in a toggle actuated hand grip clamp or wrench and has for an object to provide an improved wrench of this type comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws for holding an object therebetween and means for maintaining the jaws in either their operative or inoperative position without the employment of manual pressure by the operator.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved structure in which substantially all of the component parts are made from stampings of steel or the like held together by rivets or the like. This arrangement effects a substantial savings in the cost of manufacture as compared to the present practice of making such wrenches from castings which must be milled to make possible the mounting and fitting together of the various parts of such prior art structures.

A further object of the present invention is to provid an improved wrench of this character in which the above objects are accomplished without sacrificing strength and durability.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this kind which can be used as a clamp on various types of work, such as welding, woodworking, drill press work, sheet metal work, aircraft production and the like.

In one of its broadest aspects th present invention contemplates the provision of an improved toggle actuated hand grip wrench comprising a stationary handle or frame including a pair of spaced apart stampings having a hand grip portion, inserts between the hand grip portions of the stampings and secured thereto for holding said stampings. in spaced apart relation, a block mounted between said stampings and having a threaded opening therethrough, a link pivotally connected at one end to said frame, a movable handle pivotally connected to the other end of said link and comprising a pair of spaced apart stampings having a hand grip portion, inserts between said hand grip portions of the handle stampings and secured thereto for holding said movable handle stampings in spaced apart relation, a jaw movably mounted on said frame and pivotally connected to said movable handle, and a spindle threadedly received by the opening in said block, said movable jaw and said spindle having opposed Work engaging surfaces.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in fully closed position of an improved wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention;

' Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

} Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line d4 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the improved wrench in fully opened position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the improved wrench illustrating a spindle especially adapted for welding operations; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A generally indicates a stationary or fixed handle or frame, B a movable handle, C a link movably connecting the handles A and B, and D a movable jaw connected to the handles A and B.

The frame A comprises a pair of substantially T-shaped members I0 and II which may be stampings of steel or the like. A pair of inserts I2 of aluminum, plastic or the like are disposed between the members It and II at the lower portion thereof to maintain members II and I2 in spaced apart relation. Rivets or the like I3 ektend through the members I0 and II and the inserts I2 to retain them in assembled relation. The inserts I2 are substantially flush with the edges of the lower portions of the members Ill and I I to form therewith a hand grip.

The link C comprises a pair of substantially flat rectangular shaped bars I4, the lower end portions of which are received between the members I0 and II and are pivotally mounted thereon by a pivot pin IS in the form of a rivet or the like intermediate the opposite ends of the head portions of the members Ill and I I. The upper end portions of the bars [4 are received between stampings I6 and I! ofv steel or the like which comprise the movable handle B.

The upper end portions of the barsld are pivotallyconnected to the stampings I6 and I'! of the handle B by a'pivot pin- I8 which may be in the form of a rivet or the like. The stampings rotatably receives *a'cap 34a. the ireduce'd portion "331 forms a. shoulder 35a which supports'the'cap 34a. Theupper end of thepo'rtion 33c is "peened over toipro'vide a retaining head 36a for' the cap 34a. The lower end-portion of-theshank 32a is of'reduced diameter'as indicated at 3Ia' so that the spindleE' may "be entirely removed from theblo'ck"29 "to permit I6 and I! are held in spaced apart relation by inserts I9 which may be made of aluminum, plastic or the like. The inserts I9 are secured in position at the lower end portions of the stampings I6 and I! by rivets Or the like 20. The vertical edges of the inserts I9 are substantially flush with the edges of the stampings I6 and IT to form therewith a hand grip.

The movable jaw D comprises a. pair of substantially arcuate shaped stampings 2| and 22 of stee1 or the like which are held together by rivets or the like 2 3. The rear end portions of the stampings 2I and 22 are. received between the upper end portions of the stampings I6 and Hand are pivotally connected thereto by a rivet or the like 24. The intermediate. portionsiof the stampings 2I and 22 forwardly of the rivet 24 are received between the upper end portion of the members I and II and are pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin .25 which may be in the form of arivet or the like. 'The forward end portions of the stampings 2I and 22-are bent laterally in opposite directions to provide laterally extending substantially semicircular lugs 26 and 21 which togetherprovide-a workengaging surface. The lower edges of the lugs26 and'27 may-be provided withmilled teeth-28 :todncrease the gripping ability of the lugs 2 6 and 21.

.receives ascrew .threadedshank. 32 of a spindle,

generally indicated atE. .Theupper end portion 33 of the shanki32 isof reduced diameter and rotatably receives .a cap-34. The provision of the reduced portion33 forms a shoulder 35 which supports the cap 34. The upper endof thepor- 'tion' 33 is peened .over to provide a retaininghead 36 for the cap 34. The-upper surface of-lthe cap 34 is disposed in opposed relation-tofithe under surfaces Of the lugs'26, and"?! to provide in cooperation therewith a work engaging surface. The lower end portion of the spindleE may be'of largerdiameter than the shank'32 as indicated Yatfland may beknurled 'forafiording affirm "purchase for adjustingthe spindle in the" block '29. A locknut 38 is threadedly received by the. "shank' 32 of thespinclle above the block'29 "for "locking the spindle 'in adjusted position.

" In Figures 7 and 8"0f'the drawingsis'illustrated a spindle 'E' which is particularly adapted for'use during welding operations.

7 The spindleE has a threaded shank'32a which is threadedly' received by the block29. The'upper end portion 33a of the shank' 32a is-ofreduced'diamet'er and Theprovision of of the replacement of the spindle. "Thereduced #portion 31a may be knurled to'provide a'firm purchase foradjusting the spindle Ein the block 29. Lock nuts 38a and 385 are threadedly re-- ceived by the shank 32a above and below the block 29, respectively, for retaining the spindle in adjusted position. A protective sleeve or tube 39 of copper or the like encircles the upper end portions of the shank 32a of the spindle E. -The tube 39 is confined between the cap 34a and the lock nut 38a so that the tube will protect the threads on the upper portion of the shank 32a.

In the useof the device the movable handle 25 will be swung to the'fullyopen' position illustrated in Figure 5 ofthe drawing. It will be noted that when in its fully open position the upper inner end surfaces 40 of the stampings I6 and I! will engage the opposed adjacent edges of the members I0 and II as at 4I. This interengagement of the frame A and the movable handle Bwill prevent the movement of the pivots I5 and I8 of the link C past dead center, but will permit these pivots to assume a position in which the movable handle B cannot be accidentally moved to the closed position of the jaw D. When the parts'are in the position illustrated inFigure 5 of the drawing theipieces of work indicated at'42 in phantom lines in Figure 1 of the drawing can be inserted between the movable jaw D and the cap'34.

The operator will now'move'the handle B towards the fixed frame A by squeezing these two parts togetheruntil the work 42 is firmly gripped between the lugs 26 and 21 and the cap 34, as shown in Figure 1' of thedrawing. The desired operations'can now be carried" out upon the work 42. The space between the 'lugs'26 and 27 of the jaw Bend the cap'34 can be varied by loosening the lock nut 38 and rotating the spindle 32 in the desired direction to move the cap 34 towards or away from the lugs 26 and 27. When the cap has 3812. The 'tube 39will 'protect the threads of the "fications beingrestricted-only by the scope'of the following claims.

been moved to the desired position the lock nut 38 is again screwed down tight'against the upper surface of 'the'block 29.

The-stampings I6 and H are ofgreater width adjacent the pivot I8 and are provided withsubstantially fiat portions '43 which are adapted to engage the opposed edges of the. stampings I0 2 and I I as at 44 when the handle B is moved to its fully closed position'as shown'in Figure 1 of the drawing. The portions '43 and of the frame A and the handleB'thus cooperate to limit the movement of the handle 3 and to assure that'the gripping faces of the lugs 26 and 2'! will be-parallel to the gripping surface'of the cap-34 so'that ".the-work-42-will be firmly-gripped by substantia'lly the entire surfaces of the lugs26 and '21.

When it is desired to use the wrench in con- 'nection with welding -or' the like operations, the

spindleiE illustrated 'in'Figures '7 and 8- of the :drawing. may. be employed. 3 The adjustment of thlS spindleE'-- with'respect-to the movable jaw D is effected by loosening the lock nut 38b and rotating the spindlelE' 'in' the block29 in thedesired direction-and then tightening the 'locknut shank 32a against the hotsparks' or the likedtirmg the welding operation. This is highlyde- .-sira-ble-as these-threads'would soon be burnt away'and thespindlewould have to. be replaced.

It. is-obvious that variouschanees andmo'difi- .cationsmay be made 'in the details of construc- .tionand-design of the above specifically'described embodiment ofthis invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, such changes and modi- What'I claim is: 1. An improved tog le actuated hand "grip wrench comprising a stationary frame including a pair of spaced apart stampings, means for maintaining said stampings in spaced apart relation, a movable handle including a pair of spaced apart stampings, means for maintaining said handle stampings in spaced apart relation, 2. link comprising a pair of bars one end portion of which is received between the frame stampings and pivotally attached thereto and the other end portion of which is received between the handle stampings and is pivotally attached thereto, a movable jaw having a work engaging surface and comprising a pair of stampings one end portion of which is received between the handle stampings and is pivotally connected thereto and the intermediate portion of which is received between said frame stampings and is pivotally connected thereto, a block having a screw threaded opening extending therethrough and disposed between said frame stampings and secured thereto, a spindle threadedly received by the opening in said block and having a work engaging surface in opposed relation to said jaw, and locking means for securing said spindle in adjusted position. said frame and handle having cooperating portions which engage one another when the handle is moved to its fully open position to limit the movement of the movable handle in its opening direction, said frame and handle also having cooperating portions which engage one another when the handle is moved to its fully closed position to limit the closing movement of the handle and to maintain the work engaging surface of the movable jaw spaced from and substantially parallel to the work engaging surface of the spindle.

2. An improved toggle actuated hand grip wrench, comprising a substantially T-shaped stationary frame having a head portion and a leg portion and including a pair of spaced apart stampings, a block having a screw threaded opening extending therethrough and disposed between said frame stampings in the leg portion thereof and secured thereto, a spindle threadedly received by the opening in said block and having a work engaging surface, locking means for securing said spindle in adjusted position, a movable jaw having its intermediate portion received between the frame stampings at one end of the head portion thereof and pivotally mounted thereon, said jaw having a work engaging surface one end portion thereof and cooperating with the work engaging surface of said spindle for holding a piece of work, a movable handle comprising a pair of spaced apart stampings, the other end portion of said movable jaw being received by the space between said handle stampings at one end thereof and pivotally connected thereto, and a link having one end portion received by the space between the frame stampings at the intermediate part of the head portion thereof and pivotally connected thereto, the other end portion of said link being received by the space between the handle stampings inwardly of and adjacent to the pivotal connection of the movable jaw to the movable handle and pivotally connected to said handle stampings, the pivots of said link being on dead center when the handle is moved to fully open position.

ROBERT J. KELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 

